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Free Drinks Card in Casino?

Djptcp

By Djptcp,
in Holland America Line

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Djptcp

Djptcp

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On Carnival, I receive free drinks in the casino after reaching 1500 points, usually on the second day. Even though we cruised on HAL a little over a year ago, I honestly can't recall if I received a free drinks card in the casino on the Zuiderdam after reaching a specific number of points. Does this happen on HAL? Thanks.

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kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

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On Carnival, I receive free drinks in the casino after reaching 1500 points, usually on the second day. Even though we cruised on HAL a little over a year ago, I honestly can't recall if I received a free drinks card in the casino on the Zuiderdam after reaching a specific number of points. Does this happen on HAL? Thanks.

 

there is a difference between a free drink and a drink card so.... - No fee drinks card, but there can be free drinks.

 

 

On some ships when you hit x points you are entitled to a free drink.

 

on others, alert casino people offer you a free drink and on some ships, nothing may be offered.

 

the Visa ships (and probably above) have the mechanism to offer a free drink when you get to x points.

 

The smaller ships don't seem to (at least from my experience) but that doesn't mean you are not treated ;)

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tv24

tv24

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I was recently on the Nieu Amsterdam and spent way too much time at the black jack table in the casino. They tracked my play each time. No free drinks offers. I anticipate that sometime later I will receive email offers for gambling cruises, just like I am getting from Princess.

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j9inmaui

j9inmaui

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Just off Koningsdam, after the first couple of nights they recognize you as a "regular" and of course track your spending and play, I simply asked for a drink each night from the floor supervisor, easy peasy. You did have to ask though. Even for less frequent players, they are unlikely to say no to an occasional request.

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  • 5 months later...
CM1984

CM1984

Posted
Posted
On Carnival, I receive free drinks in the casino after reaching 1500 points, usually on the second day. Even though we cruised on HAL a little over a year ago, I honestly can't recall if I received a free drinks card in the casino on the Zuiderdam after reaching a specific number of points. Does this happen on HAL? Thanks.

 

Hello Djptcp: I see you were on the Zuiderdam, can you tell me about the casino?

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doublebzz

doublebzz

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This is no "free lunch" or "free drinks". On my most recent Prinsendam cruise, I was offered a drink each night I played at the craps table. I believe is ended up costing me about $150 a drink.

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jenp123

jenp123

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On every ship I have been on, after a few nights the casino supervisor definitely started buying drinks for the regulars at the tables. If they didn' offer, we would ask and they would save a server over for us. Definitely not free based on cost of play bit a nice gesture.

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tv24

tv24

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I was recently on the Nieu Amsterdam and spent way too much time at the black jack table in the casino. They tracked my play each time. No free drinks offers. I anticipate that sometime later I will receive email offers for gambling cruises, just like I am getting from Princess.

 

I can amend my post. Still no free drinks, but...We were booked on an 18-day crossing on HAL and were pleasantly surprised by a price drop related to a gambling discount. Way more valuable than a few free drinks.

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sail7seas

sail7seas

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there is a difference between a free drink and a drink card so.... - No fee drinks card, but there can be free drinks.

 

 

On some ships when you hit x points you are entitled to a free drink.

 

on others, alert casino people offer you a free drink and on some ships, nothing may be offered.

 

the Visa ships on the (Vista ships) - how do you think they keep track of points i f there is no card ? (my bold) (and probably above) have the mechanism to offer a free drink when you get to x points.

 

The smaller ships don't seem to (at least from my experience) but that doesn't mean you are not treated ;)

 

 

 

......

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a.madruga

a.madruga

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I was recently on the Nieu Amsterdam and spent way too much time at the black jack table in the casino. They tracked my play each time. No free drinks offers. I anticipate that sometime later I will receive email offers for gambling cruises, just like I am getting from Princess.

you'll do better on princess than hal....

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  • 1 year later...
DaveOKC

DaveOKC

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 1/3/2018 at 10:34 PM, tv24 said:

I was recently on the Nieu Amsterdam and spent way too much time at the black jack table in the casino. They tracked my play each time. No free drinks offers. I anticipate that sometime later I will receive email offers for gambling cruises, just like I am getting from Princess.

You should have received an offer from the casino the last evening, inviting you to come back and offering you $XXX dollars on free play on your next cruise (restrictions apply).  My DW just got one on the NA in Dec and she is a light gambler (means she starts gambling when it is light out - just kidding) - she sets a limit of $30 per day and plays penny slots.  This 7 day cruise she got $150 in free play for our April cruise.  

 

PLUS, the casino rate we get on most cruises saves us alot more than she loses.  

Edited by DaveOKC
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kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

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Sail, since you posted inside my post, I can’t quote you but to answer what you posted which I have bolded:



 how do you think they keep track of points i f there is no card ? (my bold) (and probably above) have the mechanism to offer a free drink when you get to x points.

 

The smaller ships don't seem to (at least from my experience) but that doesn't mean you are not treated 😉

 

 

It’s very easy for them to keep track of points on the ships.  The points register on the slot machines and the crap/card tables know the regular players.

The smaller ships keep track just as some of the others do.  It depends on the casino manager.  Always got drinks by day 4 on the smallest ship in the fleet.

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doublebzz

doublebzz

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Just got off the Zuiderdam and the Craps pit boss was more generous with free drinks than I previously experienced.  My wife and I play craps and also were offered $150 Casino free play off our next booking.  It appears whenever this topic comes up on Cruise Critic, the casino is far more disposed to offering perks to slot players than those who play table games.  Understandable of course since slots are nothing more than cash cows for the casinos.

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kazu "Live from...." Rare

kazu

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29 minutes ago, KrissyCruises said:

I haven't seen that one before from HAL. Did it come on the ship or in the mail? Nice!image.png.9628abaf83a8df6f6b43e38047e75b16.png

 

Usually you get it on the ship or an invite to contact the Casino key people.

 

But your cruise usually has to be in 6 months.  Usually doesn’t work for me but it might next time 😉 

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Brentt_M

Brentt_M

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3 hours ago, familymom05 said:

150D358D-576A-415A-9A19-E2DE8BB610C0.jpeg

Looks like the exact same mailer I got in the mail just the other day. 

 

I have never had an issue getting a free drink on a HAL ship. Honestly, the craps crew kept me very well hydrated on my last cruise. I also had chocolate covered strawberries sent to my room and dinner at tamarind comped.  I play craps almost exclusively. Usually just place the 6&8 for $30. I also tip the crew regularly.

 

 Last cruise was a very good gambling trip covered all of the costs associated with the Alaskan cruise.

 

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tv24

tv24

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After our HAL cruise last spring, on the last day, I received an offer similar to what Brentt_M received.  I was at first happy, but then I noticed it had a drop dead date to take advantage and since we had no plans to book another HAL cruise, we had to let this offer slip by.

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VTcruisenut

VTcruisenut

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Posted

I too, spend time in the Casino.  SIGH.  it's fun, I usually do pretty well even!  2 years ago I received an offer for a cruise for $100 plus port fees and taxes.  So I went!  Last year DH and I went on a cruise with friends.  The hubby from the other couple and I spend about the same amount of time in the Casino. Spent about the same amount of $$$.  I got an offer for a free cruise this year, just port fees and taxes and he got nothing!  My experience is I have gotten 1 free drink in the casino and that was this past March on the Oosterdam.  Other than that, never been offered a drink at all!  Very different from my Casino experience in Montreal where the servers circulate constantly and deliver free beverages of every kind.  Regardless, I am going to spend time and $$ in the Casino, but don't do the photos and art auctions. To each his own.  It's fun, I meet people, I win, I lose, maybe come out ahead (I actually have several times)  would love to play Blackjack or Craps, but I am not that brave!   

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Arubababe52

Arubababe52

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My husband and I were on the Zuiderdam for Christmas and spent every night after dinner in the casino.  We both play table games and the pit bosses were very generous buying drinks for our tables.  We received chocolate covered strawberries in our cabin and next to the last night received a COME BACK AND PLAY offer.  We both received $350 in Casino Free play.  Of course you have to book within 45 days and only good for cruises sailing through June, 2020. Unfortunately we won’t be able to take advantage of the offer.  

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Djptcp

Djptcp

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We just sailed on a 10-day Koningsdam and I was asked by casino staff a number of times if they could buy me a cocktail. So, no free drink cards like on Carnival, but I don't drink much so no an issue. My Come Back And Play offer was $1,000 in free play. Really hard to pass that up, but we already have several HAL cruises booked within the time frame of the offer.

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DaveOKC

DaveOKC

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4 minutes ago, Djptcp said:

We just sailed on a 10-day Koningsdam and I was asked by casino staff a number of times if they could buy me a cocktail. So, no free drink cards like on Carnival, but I don't drink much so no an issue. My Come Back And Play offer was $1,000 in free play. Really hard to pass that up, but we already have several HAL cruises booked within the time frame of the offer.

Can you cancel and rebook with the free play offer.  Also, have your TA check into this - sometimes they will let you add it onto an existing reservation.

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